Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Join The Village Potters for this one-day demonstration workshop with Lindsay Rogers as she takes us through the process of making and finishing a series of vessels intended for food service. Some of the techniques and skills she will demonstrate include throwing, trimming, adding handles, and texturing of vessels, as well as several processes for surfacing vessels with resist patterns and bisque slip. As demonstrations progress, the dialogue will focus on the role handmade vessels have in the contemporary home and design strategies we, as artists, employ to engage our audiences with the food they eat.

Lindsay Rogers of Lindsay Rogers Ceramics is a studio potter, educator, and food enthusiast living in Western North Carolina. She received her BA with a concentration in print making from Sarah Lawrence College in 2001, and an MFA in ceramics from the University of Florida in 2013. Lindsay is currently an Assistant Professor of Ceramics at East Tennessee State University.

Once in a generation, there are extraordinary exhibits that capture the mind and spirit and are of such significance that they are remembered forever.

The Bascom is proud to present such an exhibit this summer. “The Poetry & Pottery of Dave Drake.”

Dave Drake was born into the condition of Slavery about the year 1800, in the Edgefield District of South Carolina. Not only was he trained by Abner Landrum and others at Pottersville on how to make alkaline-glazed stoneware, learned how to read and write! Dave used these skills, normally forbidden to slaves, to communicate to the free and enslaved world around him his philosophy, his prose and his point of view on love, patriotism, commerce and religion. The pottery and poetry that is Dave’s legacy, is a rare and unique window into the life of a mid-nineteenth century African American craftsman, who lived most of his life in bondage. The verses are also referred to as couplets or poems, inscribed by Dave, in his hand, on his soft clay jars, at a time in which it was novel and eventually dangerous to do so. His vessels stand as sentinels to the abuses of privilege and the fettered ability to express ideas no matter the form it takes, artistic or otherwise. Even though we may not completely understand all their meanings, the fact that Dave wrote these verses communicate to us today glimpses of what his life was like is the powerful story this exhibition will tell.

The Bascom invites you to come and walk among his grand pottery and prose as we will have eight of Dave’s famous poem pots, the most on exhibit in one place since 1998, at The Bascom June 24-September 10, 2017. On loan from private collectors and museums, this is an exhibit not to be missed. While you are on The Bascom campus, be sure and visit the Dave Drake Studio Barn. Named for Dave Drake by an anonymous donor, you will be able to see potters working today utilizing some of the same techniques used by Dave Drake himself. Support for this extraordinary exhibit was provided by Platinum sponsors Jack and Lucy Kuhne and Diamond sponsors Ginger Kennedy and Kevin Naylor, Delta Air Lines and The Chaparral Foundation.

As a center for the visual arts on a mountain plateau, The Bascom provides a dynamic experience that inspires and attracts residents and visitors through interaction with all forms of visual arts. Established in 1985, the Bascom has evolved into a prominent cultural institution in the southern Appalachian region, and moved to its present six-acre, architect-designed campus in 2009. The Bascom is open year-round, Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5, and offers free admission to all exhibitions. The campus is located at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands, NC. More information about the Bascom’s exhibitions and educational programs can be found the website, www.thebascom.org.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

I have a kiln that is 20+ years old that has been so great through the years. It has been used for 04-03 firings with cone 6 maybe 6 times. It is in good condition. I am asking $850.00 for the kiln, kiln furniture, and vent system. Pick up in downtown Weaverville. Contact me at 828-246-1930 or trishsalmon@bellsouth.net.

Monday, June 19, 2017

A pottery and ceramic sculpture show at Doe Ridge Pottery in Boone NC Sponsored by Potters of the Blue Ridge

ELIGIBILITY – Any potter living and working in the NC mountain counties of Ashe, Allegheny, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes, and any member of Clay Club is eligible to enter Take a Walk on the Wild Side. All work must be made primarily of clay and must have been completed within the last two years.

RULES –
• All work must remain at Doe Ridge Pottery for the duration of the exhibit, August 4 – 20, 2017.
• PBR reserves the right to photograph accepted work and use entered images for publicity purposes.
• Payment of the entry fee signifies the potter's understanding and acceptance of the rules and
conditions of the exhibit.

ENTRY FEE – There is a non-refundable entry fee of $20 per potter, with a maximum of 6 works per individual. Entry fees will be used towards advertising the show. Entry form and fee must be received by July 12, 2017. Make check or money order payable to Theresa McGrath and mail or deliver to Doe Ridge Pottery, 585 West King Street, Suite D, Boone, NC 28607.

SALES – Sales will be encouraged. Sold work may be removed by the purchaser. Exhibitors will receive 75% of each sale. PBR will take a 25% commission.

Paulus Berensohn has "changed his address," as he was fond of saying, beginning his next journey just before midnight on Thursday, June 15, at Solace Center in Asheville, NC. His body returned to Penland this morning. The community is invited to help with his transition by quietly accompanying him in the Buddhist tradition.

"Often the body requires some time to accomplish this passage in peace, and the transition can be greatly aided by the attention of those who love him, " writes Caverly Morgan, who, along with Joy Seidler, will be facilitating this moment. We invite you to attend. Please come by Paulus's house today, Friday, June 16 from 4-7 PM or tomorrow, Saturday, June 17 from 4-7 PM for a moment of quiet sitting. (Address: 1968 Penland Road, just south of the Toe River bridge.)

Per Paulus's wishes, he will be buried at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, a green burial sanctuary in Mills Rivers, just south of Asheville, in a casket of cardboard collaged with paste papers and his own paper stitching, and lowered into a grave dug into Carolina clay by Jonah Stanford. Burial will be Sunday at 2 PM. (Address below.) All are invited to attend the quiet sitting and/or the short burial service. If you have any further questions, call Debra at 612-414-0936.

There will be a larger Celebration of Life for Paulus on Saturday, July 22. Details to come.

Bob is the owner of the Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery and Studio. The gallery includes the work of a number of potters in addition to Bob’s work and is in a terrific location in downtown Boone. Before starting his demo, Bob talked about his career, including a background in drafting that has influenced his ceramic work, and how he and Lucy Hamilton developed a clay body that they sold to Highwater Clays, who now sell it as Highwater’s Brownstone clay body. He shared a number of his tools, including tools he makes by shaping church keys with a bench grinder and Dremel tool (a couple of those are shown in one of the photos).

Bob shared a number of pro tips, including this one: when carving a design on a lamp, start on the back side (the side with the hole for the cord) - if you don’t get it quite right, that side will probably be facing a wall. Another tip: flexible rulers come in handy, and a transparent flexible ruler is even better since it lets you see what you’re working on while you’re using it.

Bob demonstrated his design layout and carving techniques, and talked about his glazing methods for his current series of glaze inlay forms. He demonstrated his carving technique on a four-sided piece, creating the design freehand. You can see the piece he demonstrated on in the photos, as well as some completed carved pieces in the background of the photo in which Bob is holding a bowl.

Cindy and Bob shared a call for artists for a pottery and ceramic sculpture show that the Potters of the Blue Ridge are sponsoring at Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery in August - look for details about that here on the blog soon.

Thanks again to Cindy, Bob and all of the Potters of the Blue Ridge! Hopefully we’ll get to do a joint meeting like this again.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

I am a potter from metro-Louisville, Kentucky, who wants to make a move to the Bakersville area. I am in need of finding a studio space to either rent for a year, or if the situation/price is right, ($115,000 or below) a home to buy that I can convert to a working studio. I am now retired and will only be producing part time, so not necessary to have high visibility as it's unlikely I will even open my doors for business. My work will primarily be distributed wholesale throughout the region.

The front room show this month opens Saturday, June 10th from 5:00-8:00, with Penland resident artists Tom and Maggie Jaszczak. Their work is a study in understated tones with a satiny finish and subtle to brilliant accents. All this is captured on streamlined forms that are the epitome of functionality. Their work was definitely made to be used - and touched. I hope you love it as much as we do!

For six hours on Saturday, June 10, the hill behind the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway will be filled with more than twenty potters selling ceramic wares for both décor and function. Clay Fest is an annual Southern Highland Craft Guild event that celebrates the varied craft processes and techniques used with clay. The Guild’s makers are adding new elements to enhance the twenty plus-year-old event into a festival with exhibitor booths. Alongside the sixteen Guild potters will be a handful of invited guest potters from across the country.

“Despite our membership requirements having physical boundaries that require residence in one of 293 counties, we strongly believe in building a creative community beyond our region,” says potter Joe Frank McKee. “Having invited potters is a fantastic way to share more techniques and methods, as well as build a deeper appreciation for the craft.”

In addition to being able to shop on the hill, visitors will be able to watch the first annual Clay Olympics. Each exhibiting potter is invited to compete in two events, throwing the tallest vessel and throwing the widest bowl. Contestants are given a five-pound wedge of clay and five minutes. Prizes are given to the top three competitors with gift certificates to Highwater Clays, Southern Highland Craft Guild merchandise, and other local goods.

Attendees are invited to participate from 10am – 4pm in various activities. For a chance to get behind a wheel, makers from local education center, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, will be assisting attendees with throwing on pottery wheels.

Raku potters Lynn Jenkins, Gary Clontz, John Turner, Tina Curry and Steven Forbes-deSoule will be assisting visitors wanting to make their own raku pot. This ceramic firing process uses flames and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. Pots will be available for purchase for $10 and participants can glaze a pot and then watch it be fired.

With the Folk Art Center located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors and locals have the opportunity to visit the craft shop, as well as three exhibition galleries. Outside are hiking trails, picnic tables and grassy areas for relaxing. There is plenty of parking. Clay Fest is a free event on June 10, 10am – 4pm. For more information visit, www.craftguild.org or call 828-298-7928.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Here are the details from The Bright Angle (located at 207 Coxe Ave Studio 15 in Asheville):

Join us for Pints, Porcelain and Pong! The Bright Angle is celebrating their ceramic collection release in our studio on Friday, June 9 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at the Refinery Creator Space. The event will feature handmade porcelain pint glasses made just for this event, a special spring sale, local craft brews, kiln-fired hors d'oeuvres, and beer pong with our handmade pint glasses.

This event will give the community a chance to get to know us and tour our studio. The Bright Angle's new ceramic collection is a collaboration with local Asheville artists, including leather components by In Blue Handmade and glass pieces by Hayden Wilson Glass.

Here's the story: An adult beginning pottery student in the Hendersonville area had her retired (meticulous!) husband build her this kiln. She fired it once with the help of her instructor who retired soon after. Apparently the kiln intimidated her and she never fired it again. Time passed and finally her husband put it up for sale as he wanted to use the kiln shed for his own projects. John and I rented a UHaul and spent a weekend taking it apart angle iron by angle iron, brick by brick (boxed up) 3 years ago. We were going to rebuild it on our property the following spring. Hah. Instead, John had to have bilateral hernia surgery that spring which took way longer recovery time than we had anticipated, the following spring I had to have sinus surgery which took way longer recovery time than expected, and this spring we are both having new adventures in arthritis.... So we have decided it is time to be retiring, not starting a new pottery-making phase! (We have electric and wood kilns now.)

This kiln is in our garage, boxed up, easy access. We have the original brick-by-brick plan drawings and a bazillion photos of the dismantling.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Update: the kiln brick has been sold, but see Mark's comment below about more brick he has for sale.

Here are the details from Mark Heywood:

Kiln brick for sale. From the floor up.
Six ft. by six ft., 52-1/2" to buttress - about ten inch rise in the arch.
First three courses are Clipper bricks, the rest are all insulating bricks.
IFB door bricks and arch form included.
You disassemble and move. $200.00
Low pressure, homemade burners with regulators available.

For more info contact Mark at Whynot Pottery, Seagrove, N.C.
I DO NOT use Facebook Messenger. Email me directly at contact@whynotpottery.com or call (336-873-9276).

Monday, June 5, 2017

June Clay Club will be from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, June 14th at Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery and Studio in Boone. Thanks to the Potters of the Blue Ridge for hosting us, with special thanks to Cindy Pacileo and Bob Meier!

Bob Meier will give a presentation on design lay-out, carving techniques, and glazing methods for his current series of glaze inlay forms. See the images above - and see more about Bob and his work here: http://doeridgepottery.homestead.com/

Doe Ridge Pottery Gallery and Studio is located at 585 West King Street, Suite D in Boone. The studio is right downtown, with free parking after 5 in the lot beside and behind the studio. The main entrance is on King Street and down a flight of stairs, but it's easier to park in the lower part of the parking lot next door and come in the back door. Directions available here: http://doeridgepottery.homestead.com/contact.html

We will have the usual potluck, so bring food to share. Clay Club is BYOB, so bring drink too.

Mitchell and Yancey area folks - let me know if you’re interested in carpooling. If you’re interested in carpooling from elsewhere, let me know and I’ll put folks in touch.

Questions? Contact Cindy Pacileo at cindy@cindypacileo.com. You can also contact me at amy@amywallerpottery.com or at 828-467-1183.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Paula Owen is Penland's 2017 Andrew Glasgow Writer in Residence and has served as the president of the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas since 1996. She is also an author and practicing artist. Paula will present an introduction to her research into the influences that connected and shaped potters in the mid-20th century. Then potter Rob Barnard will join her for a conversation with the audience.

Friday, June 2, 2017

The Woodfire NC pre-conference events are going on now ahead of the main Woodfire NC conference next week. There are several related exhibitions around Western North Carolina (in Asheville, Mars Hill and Bakersville), some with receptions happening this weekend and next week. Check out the schedule of Western North Carolina exhibitions here: http://www.woodfirenc.com/nc-mountains-exhibitions/

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About Clay Club

Clay Club meets at artist studios and other locations throughout Western North Carolina, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. All potters and ceramic artists are welcome! Look for details about the meetings here on the blog or contact Amy Waller at amy@amywallerpottery.com for more info.